BE YOU
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
RORY MCCARTHY
ATHLETE FOA 2000, 2002, 2006-2011, 2016 Sea to Shining Sea 2010 Vietnam Challenge 1998 Paralympic Torch Relay 1996 AXA World Ride 1995
Adaptive athlete Rory McCarthy has spent nearly a quarter century participating in World T. E. A. M. Sports cycling events, from the 1995 AXA World Ride to nine Face of America rides between 2000 and 2016.
WORLD T. E. A. M. SPORTS ANNUAL REVIEW
Team members at Adventure Team Challenge Colorado face varied terrains, from water to sand to rock.
In Colorado’ s high desert near Grand Junction, not far from Utah’ s eastern border, civilian and military veterans from across North America worked together in teams of five to successfully complete three outdoor stages. Athletes pedaled bicycles and hand cycles along sandy, steep and rocky back country trails, paddled rafts down the Colorado River and across Highline Lake, used orienteering skills to reach specific course checkpoints, climbed a high sandstone spire through friction and strategic hand and footholds and navigated a zip line course.
Living with orthopedic and neuromuscular issues with his legs for most of his life, the Bath, Maine electrical designer and engineer has developed a love for hand cycling. Understanding that ongoing physical exercise is important to his well-being, Rory participates in numerous cycling events both
locally and nationally.
The greatest success for a team is always
when the members recognize and embrace the diversity of the members. Every athlete has stories to share. something they can contribute.
Riding with World T. E. A. M. Sports has“ profoundly” affected his life, he admits. Through his travels, he has met some incredible people with inspirational
Yet, he understands that there are many persons with disabilities who are not staying physically The Adventure Team Challenge active. To these diversity individuals of the, Rory members has words. Every of is a celebration of inclusiveness encouragement, athlete. has something they can of encouraging each participating contribute. athlete to join in and contribute“ Someone with a disability, whether from an injury to the team’ s overall success or accident. or With something most teams someone joining has together lived with The greatest success for a for team their whole for life the— these first time activities at the can event improve’ s start, is always when the members your quality of members life, can help quickly with identified depression their or recognize and embrace the sadness, and own make strengths you just and feel weaknesses generally better. about life and about your own life experiences.”
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